Arvig, a Minnesota-based broadband service provider, has surpassed bringing service to more than 500 cellular towers across 13 states.
Arvig made the decision in 2015 to start working directly with the major wireless carriers as a backhaul aggregator. Utilizing providers such as Arvig helps the wireless carriers accommodate increasing traffic and improve the overall customer experience for now (LTE and 4G) and in the future (5G). The company deploys dark fiber infrastructure and lit service to macro towers as well as small cells.
In 2017, Arvig installed approximately 415 route miles of fiber throughout Minnesota and beyond.
"As the demand for bandwidth continues to grow, we are well-positioned to provide solutions for carriers because of our broad footprint across Minnesota and connections to other providers across the region," said Dave Schornack, director of business development and sales at Arvig.
With its own construction and engineering departments, Arvig also has the unique opportunity to perform project tasks that are often outsourced. By providing its own construction, engineering and permitting, Arvig is able to cut out the middleman and help minimize costs for its customers.
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Although Arvig is a relatively new player in the fiber-to-the-tower space, the company has been in business for 68 years. Headquartered in Perham, Arvig began as a telephone company, and since has grown into one of the largest independent telecommunications and broadband companies in the nation.
"Our participation in the wireless industry offers a promising future for our company and our customers," said Schornack. "We're entering contracts with the carriers that are 5, 7 and even 10 years long, and have expanded our reach, bidding jobs from Minnesota to Oregon, Michigan and Oklahoma."
